CHARLOTTE: GUARDS: RAMON SESSIONS will have to adjust to a major downgrade in teammates, but he has the kind of versatile offensive skill set to be the focal point of this offense . . . The athletic GERALD HENDERSON has made strides the past two seasons. Realistically, his offensive skills are those of a No. 4 or 5 option . . . Coach Mike Dunlap is high on KEMBA WALKER, who was sometimes overwhelmed as a rookie. With a few new sets built in for him, he could thrive as a sixth man getting starter's minutes . . . BEN GORDON won't overtake Henderson, but should see big minutes as the Cats' only shooter . . . REGGIE WILLIAMS is a D-League talent . . . MATT CARROLL, in the final year of his $27 million deal, symbolizes everything that's gone wrong under Michael Jordan. FORWARDS: Drafting MICHAEL KIDD-GILCHRIST was as much about changing the losing culture as it was adding a piece they needed. MKG's statistical output is a question mark, but he'll see big minutes as a defensive stopper and intangibles guy . . . This team is seriously lacking in the post, where they may have no choice but to play TYRUS THOMAS for significant minutes. The talented but uber-underachieving big man claims to have added 20 pounds of muscle in the offseason. If nothing else, they might showcase him in a desperate attempt to get some trade value . . . Rookie JEFFERY TAYLOR figures to make the team and has the versatility and athleticism to be a respectable second-unit guy. CENTERS: Charlotte sees BISMACK BIYOMBO as a franchise cornerstone. He can certainly rebound and block shots, but his offense is atrocious . . . BRENDAN HAYWOOD brings a veteran presence. At his age he can't go more than 15 or so minutes per night . . . BYRON MULLENS never saw a shot he didn't like. He'll get one more chance to prove he's an NBA rotation player, able to play the four or five . . . DeSAGANA DIOP is doing those things that DeSagana Diop does.

CHICAGO: GUARDS: The best guess on DERRICK ROSE is a February return. But an ACL injury usually isn't 100 percent until the second full year back . . . With Rose out, KIRK HINRICH figures to play heavy minutes early. He's a defensive specialist who will pass and watch on offense . . . NATE ROBINSON could push Hinrich for minutes. He's the offensive half of that platoon, but Thibodeau almost always leans defense . . . RICHARD HAMILTON will carry a bigger offensive load while Rose is recovering. He's a shadow of his former self . . . MARCO BELINELLI is a nice addition. He's solid defensively, and he brings the long-range shooting Chicago lacks. Don't be surprised if he pushes Hamilton . . . Rookie MARQUIS TEAGUE will mostly sit and watch this year. FORWARDS: After avoiding wrist surgery, LUOL DENG should be Chicago's top scorer while Rose is out. He's the only one on this team who even has a chance to generate his own offense . . . CARLOS BOOZER continues to be a major disappointment. In the past it's been his atrocious defense, but now he's taken a step back offensively as well. He may score more with Rose out, but he'll continue to sit late in close games . . . TAJ GIBSON should be in for a bigger role. With Omer Asik gone, he's one of only two defensively capable bigs on this roster . . . VLADIMIR RADMANOVIC will try to replace some of the three-point shooting they lost when Kyle Korver left . . . JIMMY BUTLER has a puncher's chance at a rotation spot after a good summer. CENTERS: JOAKIM NOAH was still working his way back from that badly sprained ankle this summer. His durability is questionable, but the Bulls will have to lean on Noah for more minutes now that Omer Asik is gone . . . NAZR MOHAMMED steps into Asik's role as Noah's backup. But while Asik was an active defender, Mohammed is more of just a big body with six fouls to give.

Although they've had their share of big wins lately, the Chicago Bulls haven't been able to take care of business against lesser opponents.

It might help if they can get their All-Star forward back in the lineup.

The Bulls will try to win for the seventh time in nine games on Monday night when they host the Charlotte Bobcats, who snapped a lengthy losing streak in their last trip to Chicago.

While Chicago (26-17) has moved one-half game ahead of Indiana atop the Central Division with its recent surge, its struggles against teams with losing records continued in a 86-73 loss at Washington on Saturday.

The Bulls have won five of their last seven games against teams with winning records by an average of 8.4 points, including a pair of victories at Eastern Conference leaders Miami and New York.

However, they've won only five of eight against losing clubs by a slim plus-0.7 margin of victory. Two of those wins have come by three or fewer points, and all three losses have been by double digits.

Chicago could get a boost with the return of Luol Deng, who is expected to be a game-time decision after missing five games because of a hamstring injury.

The loss of Deng, who was recently named to the East All-Star team, has been eased by the strong play of backup Jimmy Butler. The second-year forward has averaged 14.2 points and more than 45 minutes per game starting in Deng's place.

Deng has averaged 22.0 points on 50.0 percent shooting and 8.0 rebounds in his last three games against the Bobcats.

The Bulls, though, look to bounce back offensively after scoring their second-lowest point total, including season lows with 11 points in the third quarter and 29 in the second half on Saturday.

Nate Robinson was the only player to score in double figures with 19, giving him 41 in his last two games.

Joakim Noah narrowly missed a triple-double with nine points, 17 rebounds and a career high-tying 10 assists. He has averaged 16.0 rebounds his last four games and is among the top five in the league.

The Bulls had averaged 99.4 points on 47.7 percent shooting in five straight wins over the Bobcats before finishing with 81 and 35.1, respectively, as visiting Charlotte pulled out a 10-point win to snap their 18-game losing streak on Dec. 31.

Starting guards Kemba Walker and Gerald Henderson combined for 34 points, while Ramon Sessions and former Bull Ben Gordon teamed for 30 off the bench.

Charlotte, though, is a league-worst 11-32 with just three wins in 12 games since, but will try to capture consecutive victories for the first time since Nov. 19-21.

The team's backcourt is also playing well heading into this meeting after totaling 81 points as the Bobcats shot a season-high 50.7 percent in a 102-101 win over short-handed Minnesota on Saturday. Sessions has 40 points on 17 of 27 (63.0 percent) shooting in his last two games, while Walker has averaged 23.7 while hitting 10 of 15 from 3-point range in his last three.